GMP policy changes out by year’s end

RADICAL REVISION?：The ministry is considering issuing GMP certification only when all assembly lines meet standards, the Minister of Economic Affairs said

By Helen Ku / Staff reporter

Tue, Nov 19, 2013 - Page 13

The Ministry of Economic Affairs yesterday said it would unveil revisions to the government’s good manufacturing practices (GMP) guidelines by the end of next month, in order to regain consumer confidence in food.

“You can’t paint everyone with the same brush,” Minister of Economic Affairs Chang Chia-juch (張家祝) told the legislature’s Economics Committee, adding that only four of 14 food companies have been found to be violating the GMP guidelines.

“It would be wrong to cancel the entire GMP system just because some firms broke the rules,” Chang said.

“As there is still a need for a standardized framework to regulate food manufacturers, the ministry will seek to enhance the current system,” he added.

While only part of their assembly lines were approved by the government’s current GMP guidelines, these companies labeled all their food products as GMP-certified.

To rebuild consumers’ confidence in the GMP system, a task force has been formed to review the evaluation process, Chang said.

In addition to requiring food makers to submit manufacturing records on a routine basis, even after being GMP-certified, the ministry is considering issuing GMP certification only when all assembly lines meet the guidelines, he added.

“The revision will be comprehensive and a report covering every possible option should be available as soon as next month,” Chang said when asked to provide a clear timeline.

Chang said the ministry plans to release a report on soy bean oil, beverages and juice on Thursday next week, following last month’s unveiling of a report about 128 cooking oils.